The City of Alton, Illinois is a historic river town on the banks of the Mississippi about 15 miles north of St. Louis City.
The project area, located in downtown, is a diverse 1.5-mile stretch along the Broadway corridor, extending east from the 3rd Street dining and entertainment district (west of Piasa Street) to Monument Avenue. EWG, collaborating with the City of Alton and several key stakeholders, facilitated a planning process to support the local community, catalyze and guide investments, refine community governance tools, and reinforce downtown Alton as a distinct regional destination. The Alton community weighed in repeatedly to ensure that the end document addresses their priorities of quality community space, desirable economic development, mobility and safety for everyone (walkers, cyclists, and drivers), and environmental best practices. The end result highlights the necessity of walkable urbanism to the traditional city development patterns. It establishes a refreshing street environment, better connects the neighborhoods and Broadway corridor to the banks of the Mississippi, defines a local creative economy, and capitalizes on Alton’s potential as a regional greenway hub.